What is this section about? What is the author saying in this section?What evidence is provided to advance the argument?

Before you are able to analyze an argument you must be able to summarize it. Good summaries include a description of the author¶s ideas including any claims made by the author. Good summaries also review evidence used to advance the argument.
To prepare to summarize the text, read it to get a general idea about the points. Then, reread the text and mark it up by circling key terms and underlining claims. Finally, chart individual paragraphs or sections and examine the overall structure of the text. As you read, take note of:
x What is this section about? What is the author saying in this section?
x What is the author doing in this paragraph or section?
x Does the author make a claim? What does he or she argue? Make note of central claims.
x What evidence is provided to advance the argument?